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Woodard brings a perfect record into the Bellator Lightweight Tournament (Photo courtesy of Bellator).

Undefeated Lightweight Sets Sights on Eight-Man Competition

Undefeated lightweight Lloyd Woodard (10-0) has been added to the lightweight tournament that will take place in the upcoming season of Bellator Fighting Championships. The competition, which gets underway in march, pits eight of the top lightweights under the Bellator banner in a single elimination tournament, with each combatant looking to claim a $100,000 purse and crack at current champion Eddie Alvarez.

“I'm ready to go out there and do what I love to do, which is fight hard and fight the best guys that are out there,” Woodard remarked. “I'm a really big fan of Eddie Alvarez, and I would love to fight him. That would be a real step up. It would be like fighting my idol, so I plan on winning this tournament so I can fight him.”

While entrance into this competition puts him just three wins from a title shot against Alvarez, Woodard knows he will face a tough test each time he steps into the Bellator cage, and he is keen not to overlook any of his opponents.

“It doesn't matter who I fight in the first round of this tournament,” he said. “I'm pretty sure they're going to be a really tough fighter, so that's what I'm preparing for. I just can't wait to get in that cage and show people what I can do. Every time I fight, more and more people are able to see me in exciting fights. The more I fight, the more people will see me, and the longer I'll be able to compete in this sport.”

Representing the Dog Pound Fight Team in Montana, Woodard has eight stoppage wins spread amongst his 10 professional victories, with six of those coming in the very first round. The former wrestler has paid his dues before getting the nod into Bellator, fighting in a variety of promotions since recording his MMA debut in 2008. His most recent win came at Extreme Challenge: High Stakes last July, where he finished Alonzo Martinez in the first round with a rear naked choke.

Woodard now joins Michael Chandler, Carey Vanier and Rob McCullough as the confirmed participants in the Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament, which will take place over the 12-week season from March until May. Bellator will have live broadcasts of the entire competition, kicking off a three-year deal that the promotion signed with MTV2 in 2010.